BALTIMORE – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Baltimore seized 550 rubber tires from Malaysia on Thursday for violating U.S. Department of Transportation highway safety standards.
The two shipments of tires, which were destined to an address in Denver, initially arrived on July 3. CBP officers detained the tires and solicited an import determination from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
of Transportation highway safety standards.
On August 13, NHTSA notified CBP that the tires violated federal motor vehicle safety standards and regulations, specifically 49 CFR 574.5(b), for omission of tire identification number labeling requirements that convey important safety and use information for consumers, as well as brand identification that can be used in the event of a recall.
CBP officers seized the tires on August 19.
CBP import specialists at the agency’s Automotive and Aerospace Center of Excellence and Expertise appraised the 550 tires at nearly $103,000.
“Customs and Border Protection places a priority on working with our safety partners, such as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, to intercept commercial goods that pose potentially significant health and safety threats to American consumers,” said Keith Fleming, Acting Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office. “CBP officers and trade specialists remain vigilant and are committed to reinforcing our nation’s physical, health and economic security through a robust enforcement posture at our international Ports of Entry.”
NHTSA is the agency responsible for improving safety on our Nation’s roadways. To achieve this goal, NHTSA develops and enforces the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which require minimum levels of safety performance for motor vehicles and equipment. Additionally, NHTSA monitors motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment being imported into the United States to ensure that they comply with all applicable FMVSS.
CBP's border security mission is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations. CBP officers screen international travelers and cargo and search for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation’s safety and economic vitality. Learn more about what CBP accomplished during "A Typical Day" in 2020.
Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders.